Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-05-13
NEWSPAPERS AND PROSPERITY

The most convincing proof of the prosperity
which is now blessing the south Is the many
bright and and enterprising newspapers that
section is supporting. Every few days the
The Press Is receiving requests for exchanges
from new papere or from old ones that have
been touched with the new spirit of progress
that Is being breathed upon the southern states.
In some instances the places IN which there
papers are published can not be found on maps
only few years old, so rapid has been their
growth from obscure hamlets 1t is
welcome sign to see the
bright, CHEEKY faces of these news.
papers. Their well filed news and advertising
columns and carefully prepared leading arti-
Giles bespeak an era of prosperity such as the
south has never witnessed before. Their eager
ness to obtain northern newspapers in ex
change also manifests commendable desire 10
be enrolled in the great fraternity of journalism
and to keep abreast of the best news and
thought of the times.
In this respect the south Is is only repeating
the experience of the north. 1t has long been
well accepted axiom in this neghborhood
that the newspapers of town or city are the
best indexes of the intelligence and culture of
its people and of the liberality and progressive
ness of its business men. And the south Is
sending out to- day no more persuasive adver-
tisements than the newspapers which come
and from 81 mingham, Admission and Bessemer
in Alabama. In every number and on every
day they tell of the new life blood which is
surging through the veins of the southern peo-
pie and forcing them to cast off the old cloak of
prejudice and torpidity. They are like mirrors
into which everyone can look and see portrayed
the business energy and sagacity, the refine
ment and intellectual advancement of the peo-
pie among whom they circulate This has
co., ~,
business men in making investments and peo-
pile looking for acceptable locations for homes
are accustomed to Judge as to the desirability
of place from the character of Its newspapers
-[Philadeiphia Press.
The above is commended to the people
of every town in Texas as the unbiased
testimony of an intelligent outsider that
has never done or said anything in love
of the south. The newspapers of Texas
are doing work for which they are in
adequately compensated, and the people
should, in their own interest, strengthen
their papers. From all over the state
there come to THE GAZETTE the papers
of Texas, and there are very few of them
which show patronage commensurate
with the effort they are making
to build up their sections. Newspapers
are expected to give circulation in ex-
change for the money paid them for ad-
vertising Individual business, but what
do they receive for the constant public
work they are doing?
The Philadelphia Press but repeats a
truth often expressed by THE GAZETTE:
Newspapers sre mirrors, indexes, refec-
lions of the towns in which they are
printed, and, as the town is, so will the
newspaper be, despite all extra
neous influence that may be tenn
pcrarily used in behalf of the paper
AS goes tile papers so will go the
town, because the paper can only be
what the town makes it. Newspapers
filed with advertisements indicate
town filed with trade; newspapers quick,
alert, alive, indicate town in motion;
newspapers dull and lifeless, indicate a
comatose town; a newspaper poorly pat
roniZed, indicates town with no patron
age to give; the paper receives from the
town inspiration, breath, life, and it goes
out to the world to tell all who read
just what the town is from which it
proceeds. The people of Texas towns
work uphill when they try to grow with
out sending forth newspaper which in
itself shall speak for them. AS the Phila-
delphia Journal says: "This has come
to be so well understood fact that many
business men in making investments and
people looking for acceptable locations
for homes are accustomed to judge as to
the desirability of place from the char
acter of its newspapers" In this is a hint
to all aspiring Texas towns that should
be too plain to require emphasis.